Issues with getting to the material button
First of all you should include some extra information like a screenshot for example. Are you using the "Blender Reder" or "Cycles Render" (I marked the setting in my screenshot where you can see that). If you could include a link to the guide that you are following it would also make things easier. 

Follow these steps and you should be able to get to the material and make your object colorful. ( The numbers of the steps are marked in the screenshot so you can find the buttons easier. ) 

Step 1.: Make sure you are in the default screen layout. (This schould be already the case) 

Step 2.: Make sure you selected the object you want to change the material of. If it is selected you should see a small orange line around it in the 3D-View. It also gets highlighted on the top right corner. If your object is not selected yet just right click on it in the 3D-View or left click on it in the top right corner. 

Step 3.: Click on the material icon. If you can't see it just pull the properies panel more to the left so it becomes bigger. Now you should be able to change the material of your object. If you want to see the material on you object in 3D you might go to Step 4. 

Step 4.: click on thet icon and select "Material" or "Rendered". (Note thet you might want to add a light source if you select "rendered".